Winona, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Winona State University student from Rochester drowned yesterday while swimming off a beach on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River near Latsch Island.

According to the Winona Daily News, the Winona Police Department and Winona County Sheriff's Office and the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department responded to a park around 4 PM after receiving a report of a possible drowning in the Mississippi River. The newspaper reported 20-year-old Lumona Lowala went underwater and began struggling after he encountered a steep drop-off and one of his friends called 911 while others attempted to rescue him.

The Winona Dive Team found the young man in the river and he was pronounced dead at the Winona Hospital.

Winona State University announced Lowala's death in a statement issued this morning that asked students and staff at the school to keep his family and friends in their thoughts and prayers. The statement indicated the 2017 Lourdes High School graduate was in his sophomore year at WSU where he was studying Management Information Systems.

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Winona, MN (KROC-AM News) - Winona State University issued a statement this morning concerning the death of a young man from Rochester.

20-year-old Lumono Lowala was a 2017 Lourdes High School graduate and was in his sophomore year at WSU studying Management Information Systems. The statement does not include any information concerning the cause or circumstances of his death but a spokesperson says there is no safety concern for the campus.

Denise McDowell, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Life at Winona State is asking students and the staff at Winona State to keep Lowala's family and friends in their thoughts and prayers. She also says counseling support services are being made available on the campus.

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